preview Page 177 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

No. 15 UCLA brings stingy defense into road test vs. Nebraska
Fresh off a signature victory that vexed some old demons, No. 15 UCLA dives into the heart of Big Ten Conference play when it faces Nebraska on Saturday afternoon at Lincoln, Neb., ,UCLA (11-2, 2-0 Big Ten) flashed its signature grind-it-out defense to earn a 65-62 neutral-court victory over Gonzaga...

Buffalo looks to keep rolling vs. Liberty in Bahamas Bowl
Most teams that go to bowl games these days must deal with multiple opt-outs and players hitting the transfer portal, thinning out the depth chart for the year's last game.,Not so at Buffalo.,"Our team is largely intact going into the bowl game," first-year coach Pete Lembo said. "Very few guys goin...

Grizzlies to put 'competitive fire' up against Kings
The Memphis Grizzlies will bring their impressive new form to Northern California, starting with a matchup against the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.,Winners in 15 of their last 19 games, the Grizzlies will venture down the road to take on the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.,The challenging ba...

Cavaliers to test West dominance on road vs. Mavericks
The Cleveland Cavaliers bid to continue their dominance of Western Conference representatives on Friday night when they complete a four-game road trip against the Dallas Mavericks.,The white-hot Cavaliers recorded their eighth straight double-digit victory with a 122-100 win over the Los Angeles Lak...

Georgetown shoots for 3-0 Big East start as Xavier visits
After ending a losing skid with a decisive New Year's Eve victory, Xavier heads to Georgetown aiming to get to .500 in Big East play on Friday in Washington.,Before ending 2024 with a 94-72 win over Seton Hall, Xavier (9-5, 1-2 Big East) had dropped three straight closes games against Top 25 opponen...

Surging Canadiens aim to keep Blackhawks reeling
A three-game winning streak against playoff contenders has vaulted the Montreal Canadiens into the postseason hunt and buoyed their self-confidence.,Montreal will aim to keep its good fortunes rolling Friday on the road against the skidding Chicago Blackhawks, a foe that will take any positive vibes...

Trying to move on from Jaden Ivey injury, Pistons face Hornets
The Detroit Pistons have won four of their last five games but they're not in a celebratory mood.,Starting guard Jaden Ivey suffered a broken left fibula during their victory over Orlando on Wednesday night.,Ivey, who scored a team-high 22 points, was injured with 10:07 remaining when Orlando's Cole...

Vikings, Lions to settle No. 1 seed in 'fairytale' showdown
Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell brings intensity to every game.,As for Sunday night's matchup between the Lions and Minnesota Vikings, which will determine the No. 1 seed in the NFC, Campbell knows his adrenaline will be pumping.,"You couldn't write a better scenario," Campbell said. "This is fairy...

Kam Jones, No. 8 Marquette back home to face inconsistent Creighton
After they celebrated New Year's Eve with victories, two of the top teams in the Big East will go at it in Milwaukee when No. 8 Marquette hosts Creighton on Friday night.,Marquette (12-2, 3-0 Big East) took care of Providence on the road on Tuesday, dominating 78-50. It was the Golden Eagles' first ...

49ers, Cardinals to end season with backups in starting roles
Out of the postseason race, the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals are preparing to start backups because of injuries for their season-ending matchup Sunday in Glendale, Ariz.,San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan announced Wednesday that Joshua Dobbs will start at quarterback in place of Brock P...

Playoff-bound Chargers not sitting starters in finale vs. Raiders
A month ago it may have sounded unfathomable, but the Las Vegas Raiders are looking to close a disappointing campaign with a third straight victory on Sunday as they host the playoff-bound Los Angeles Chargers.,It won't be an easy task for a Raiders (4-12) team that has suddenly found life in the se...

Rangers trying to solve problems as Bruins come to town
A myriad of issues in recent weeks have sent the New York Rangers tumbling down in the NHL standings, and the latest concern involves the health of goaltender Igor Shesterkin.,The Rangers will attempt to find a way out of their deep funk without Shesterkin for at least three games starting with Thur...

Celtics hit road, expect tough battle vs. Timberwolves
The Boston Celtics might need to provide extra ice packs for their upcoming road trip, and guard Jrue Holiday is perfectly OK with that.,"Teams are challenging us," Holiday said. "I think the game is becoming more physical, which is good. I think that's a benefit for us where we can do the same.",Bo...

Northwestern, Penn State meet up after strong starts
After ending the calendar year on positive notes, Northwestern and Penn State hope to begin January with a victory when the Big Ten foes square off Thursday in University Park, Pa., ,The Wildcats (10-3, 1-1 Big Ten) concluded 2024 by winning their final four games -- a tight overtime win over No. 19...

Hurricanes' road woes in focus heading to game against Panthers
The Carolina Hurricanes have been without desired results for most of the past couple of weeks.,They'll have a big challenge to get back on track Thursday night when they meet the Florida Panthers in Sunrise, Fla.,One way the Hurricanes have identified to find their groove again would be better outi...

No. 9 Oregon faces stout test vs. No. 22 Illinois
No. 9 Oregon prepares for a big early season test in the Big Ten Conference on Thursday night when 22nd-ranked Illinois makes the trip to Eugene.,And to hear guard Jackson Shelstad tell it, the Ducks (12-1, 1-1 Big Ten) have a considerable distance to go to reach their ceiling.,"We feel like we have...

No. 21 Memphis opens league play at FAU
In the aftermath of a 13-point home loss just before Christmas, Memphis coach Penny Hardaway made a decision to return to "old-school practices" every day.,That meant sprints on Christmas night. Some "choice words all week for a lot of guys," Hardaway said. Seven days later, Memphis blew out then-No...

Elite field opens season at The Sentry, with a notable absence
Will Scottie Scheffler continue his extended run of excellence into 2025?,The answer to that question will have to be put on hold.,The 2025 PGA Tour season begins Thursday at the Plantation Course at Kapalua, Hawaii, as 60 players tee off at The Sentry. The field is reserved for the top 50 players f...

Hawks hope to continue hot streak, get revenge vs. Nuggets
The Atlanta Hawks have had a streaky start to the first third of the season and are currently trending upward heading into a New Year's Day road matchup with the Denver Nuggets.,Atlanta has won four in a row, the last one Sunday at Toronto to kick off a season-long six-game road trip, and Wednesday ...

76ers carry run of good form into New Year's clash with Kings
Two teams that liked what they saw at the end of 2024 hope a new year is nothing more than the changing of a calendar when the Philadelphia 76ers visit the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night.,The game matches two coaches with strong links to the Toronto Raptors -- the 76ers' Nick Nurse, who worked ...